Ferrari 641/2 2

I did not usually test fit anything first in the old days when I was building plastic injection kits. That is because injection kits usually can fit quite well out of the box. The problem with these 1/43 white metal cast kits is, they do not fit together well. Parts often need modifications. I did not test fit parts when I built the first couple of 1/43 kits, and I had a lot of trouble fitting the suspension pieces to the body. Test fitting parts, make sure they fit together and getting an idea how they should fit together is very very important. Spending more time up front test fitting things will keep me from a lot of headaches and frustrations down the road.

I made pretty good progress last night and today. Got the transmission fitted with drive shaft and rear suspension. Also, the rear wing is put together. I suppose I can start painting pretty soon.

Ferrari 641/2 1

One thing I've learned is the importance of test fitting all the suspension pieces. 

I have a feeling that this one will be a quick build.

BAR 006 Complete

BAR Honda 006

Japanese G.P. 2004 P3

Jenson Button

Tameo Kits (SLK 015)

Ferrari 641 French G.P. 1990 Alain Prost

At the rate that I build these kits and the rate that I have been buying them, I will never be able to finish all of them. So, right after I'm done with BAR 006, I have to start my next project.

The next project is Ferrari F1-90, more commonly known as 641. The kit TMK 375 is the French G.P. version which the Professor, Alain Prost, scored Ferrari's 100th Grand Prix win.

Hopefully, it won't take me 5 months to finish this guy.

Also, I just bought the kit of the car that won Ferrari's 200th Grand Prix win. It is F2007 at Chinese G.P., piloted by the Iceman, Kimi Raikkonen.

BAR 006 17

Done! Done! Done! Now I only need to mount it in the display case. 5 months of work (could have finished 2 month earlier, but thanks to the decal incident which set me back 2 months).

BAR 006 16

Very very close to finish. I can see the end of the tunnel now.

Animals and Ferrari Red

Guess what I got?

 

My animals from Italy are here! A 2 year old Green Rabbit and a 1 year old blue parrot! Sorry Black Bison, 3 years ago, you were not good enough in 2009 to deserve the WC name, and you will not be in my collection.

Now that I am winding up the BAR 006, I guess I should finish the Ferrari 641 first and then decide what should I build afterward. My current project at work will come to a conclusion by the end of next week and I do not have anything lined up yet. So, I will probably have some extra time to play with model cars.

Going back to the Ferrari 641. Which red is the correct red for the car? On TV and on photographs, the car is just red. But in real life, Ferrari F1 machines that I have seen were not exactly red. F310, F399 and F2000 that I've seen looked like they are in fluorescent red with a hint of orange. So, anyone has any idea which red Ferrari 641 is supposed to be in?

BAR 006 15

Front and rear suspension done! Also put in the seat, the racing harness.

 

 

BAR 006 14

Mr. Hobby Mr. Super Clear did not burn the decal! Dry time is pretty fast also. Now, I'll just let it sit and get fully cured and hardened.Bye bye Tamiya TS-13, you are going to the trash can.

 

Now it is time to focus on other parts of the car.

BAR 006 13

One step closer. I'll let the decal dry for at least a day before I spray the clear coat.

 

Still have a long way to go. 

Update 1 (7/6/2012):

First mist coat of clear on, testing my patience. And pray that the decals will survive.

Thank you Mr. Hobby

Last time, when the decals got burned by Tamiya TS-13, it was 2 months ago. Now the decals should be done pretty soon, I have to make sure I won't repeat the same mistake. This morning, I put a couple of decals on the spare body, quickly dried them using a blow dryer, I sprayed a wet coat of Mr. Hobby Mr. Super Clear Gloss over the decal. It completely cured in 4 hours. Dried to touch and most importantly, did not burn the decal! I think it is safe to say this clear coat should be safe. I'll still start with light coats, allowing each coat to dry before a wet coat, just to be on the cautious side. After all, I don't have another set o decal for the BAR 006.

BAR 006 12

No work travel for the week, so resuming work on the BAR 006, but at glacial speed. Only managed to put on a couple of decals and touched up the "red" that the decal couldn't cover. 

Originally, I just used Tamiya X-7 gloss red for the tip of the air-box and the little area underneath it, but when the decal was dried, it turns out the red on the decal has a slight tint of orange. Not noticeable in photographs, but it was quite obvious with naked eye. So, I mixed the red with a bit of orange (Tamiya X-6) and tried to match the color as close as I can.

 

I don't think the progress of this project is going to speed up any time soon. Sorry brother, the Porsche 935 that I promised you may have to delay a bit.

Already started thinking about the next project. Even though I've already started working on the body of the Ferrari 641, the plan may change. I really want to build the McLaren MP4/22 and MP4/23 just to try out the Alclad II chrome stuff. On the other hand, I also want to build the RBR RB6 or Honda RA300. Sigh... problem of having too many interesting kits.

Holy Crap!

The BAR 006 project is idled. Partly because I was on vacation and was too busy doing other stuff.
When production is stopped, but purchasing is still going on, the net result is an increase in inventory. In the past couple of weeks, I bought these:
1967 Honda RA300 SRC kit
1976 Tyrrell P34 - Tameo made 3 versions of the 1976 car, the Dutch GP version with a different nose, the Japanese GP version with the roof like thing above the air funnels of the DFV engine. The version that I bought is the Swedish GP version that looks the same as the old Tamiya kit that I put together when I was in second grade.
1987 Williams FW11B - I bought another TMK version and the WCT. The price was just too good to pass. $40 for the TMK and less than $75 for the WCT! I had a TMK version of the FW11B in stock already, but the seller of that kit already started some assembly on that one. This one is brand new and I am going to use the other one as a back up. 2010 Red Bull Racing RB6 - this is by far the biggest find so far. Due to licensing issue, the kit is actually called Green Rabbit. I have been trying to track one down since I learned of its existence. When I saw it listed and it was a "Buy it now" item, it's a no brainer.

Grand Prix du Canada

Just finished watching the Canadian Grand Prix. What a crazy season this year. Lewis Hamilton drove a brilliant race and became the 7th Grand Prix winner this year. Me as a half-ass British National is very happy that a Brit driver and a British team won. Even though the Hamilton's 2 stops are both slowAnd seeing Grosjean and Perez passed Ferrari was just priceless. (With the exception of Gilles Villeneuve, I was never a Ferrari fan).

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a very special track to me. There, it's where I spent my first Grand Prix weekend back in 1996. There I learned a couple of essential things to make a Grand Prix weekend enjoyable:

1. If you are getting a seat in the grand stand, pick one that is not on a straight. 
2. Ear plugs! Racecars are loud, very loud. F1 cars are exceptionally loud. 
3. Get a scanner to listen to the communications, or a radio to listen to the live commentary.
4. A big cooler full of beverages!

BAR 006 11

Next week is Canadian Grand Prix. 12 years ago, I saw Jenson Button in his debut season with Williams. As a half-ass British National, and a long time Williams fan (I mentioned Alan Jones and FW07 was one of my all time favorite driver car combo), I immediately started to root for this young gun. (I even bought the BMW Williams Jenson Button cap and I still have it!). Since then Button drove for Beneton, then BAR, which turned into Honda, and then Brawn which he became the Champion. He moved on to McLaren and Brawn GP got picked up by Mercedes.

It's been an interesting 2012 season, 6 races with 6 different winner. I hope McLaren will do well!

Work resumed on the BAR 006. Even though I do not have any proof that decal softener played any part in my recent decal tragedy, I'll try to use the heat gun (hair dryer method) more and minimize the use of chemicals.

Since Tamiya's clear proved to be too hot for decals, as suggested by a number of people from online forums, I am going to try this:

Mr. Super Clear from Mr. Hobby. I will definitely try it on a scrap piece and make sure it is not going to mess up before spraying on the car.

Side note: My uncontrollable shopping urge continues. I bought a couple more kits. This time, McLaren MP4/23. Since I am going to try Alclad II chrome on the MP4/22 I bought earlier, I may as well do another chrome car. Sounds logical?

Also a Ferrari 643.I was building a Meri one and messed up big time. Mainly because the instruction was very poorly written. Hopefully, this Tameo kit will be better.